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A stabbing at a rooming house left a ripple of fear and concern amongst the diverse community situated in Peterborough's core. People feared drugs were getting out of hand. They were afraid their neighbourhood was going to be branded as one of the most shady areas in the city.

"My sense was people thought we were a bad street, but we are not. We are a great street," says Christine Freeman.

She has no problem saying that now. In just a year-and-a-half members of the Bolivar Neighbourhood Residents Association has worked tirelessly to improve their street's reputation by making the community a safer, cleaner place to live. Neighbours have joined forces and their combined voice has not fallen on deaf ears. Local police have taken notice as well as City staff who are in the process of revamping rooming house licencing rules that will affect the entire municipality.

The association has become a force that can't be ignored. It's proof that when people work together for the better good, positive things will follow.

"Like any other central neighbourhood we really enjoyed the diversity of our neighbours," says Jean-Pierre Pawliw, local business owner who has lived on Bolivar Street for 12 years.

"But a few years ago things were heading in the wrong direction...I have a daughter and I want her to grow up in a safe community."

Loud parties, fighting, vandalism and theft from vehicles seemed to be common place. Ms Freeman recalls walking passed the rooming house one day, while placing minutes of a recent association meeting in her neighbours' mailboxes, when two men erupted from the door. They were fighting and swearing as she walked passed.

"This was part of the reason we formed. To be safe," says Ms Freeman, who has lived on the street for 13 years.

Another Bolivar Street resident Scott Donovon was an integral part in the association's formation. At a community meeting called shortly after the stabbing, Mr. Donovon stood up and relayed how he felt. He says he saw City staff and council as resources that could be used to make a difference.

"I wondered if we the citizens couldn't come together in some organized way to work toward change rather than feeling frustrated and powerless," says Mr. Donovan.

The association was formed soon after. They met at the Peterborough Public Library and from that, the group formed alliances, argued passionately and educated itself around issues concerning their community, says Mr. Donovon.

"I believe democracy was built on this and continues to thrive under it," says Mr. Donovon.

But unlike other neighbourhood groups that seem fuelled by anger, the Bolivar group took a different approach, says Mr. Pawliw. He says their group is one of "constructive action." They meet the first Thursday of the month to keep the lines of communication going. They've invited guest speakers from the City and the police department to their meetings. They've held community barbecues and last spring hosted a neighbourhood clean up.

"We are determined not to be a vigilante group," says Jane Davidson, who has lived on Bolivar Street for two years.

"But we have an association that mitigates that it's OK to live here, but you have to play by the rules."

Association members keep watch. They report criminal activity to police and make sure low-income housing is kept to certain standards.

And it seems to be working. Peterborough police Sergeant Todd Blewett, who has worked with the association since its inception, says officers are responding to fewer calls in that area adding the association has really helped turn the community around.

"They will say the police have helped them, but they helped themselves," says Sgt. Blewett.

"We don't want vigilantes. We want people to be active in their community especially if it opens the lines of communication with the police."

Sgt. Blewett and Constable Mark Reesor have worked closely with the group. Sgt. Blewett says Const. Reesor developed an incident template for neighbours to fill out when they notice any suspicious activity. Sgt. Blewett says he's even contacted the City on behalf of residents to have the rooming houses cleaned up.

Town ward councillor Bill Juby and his colleague Dean Pappas have also worked closely with group. In fact, they called the neighbourhood meeting shortly after the 2011 stabbing to alleviate some of the fears people were having.

"We encouraged them to make a positive out of a negative and create a group and they've stayed on top of it," says Coun. Juby, who still tries to attend as many Bolivar meetings as he can.

"These types of things come out of adversity. Adversity brings people together."

Coun. Pappas says a rooming house bylaw passed last year and a moratorium was put in place prohibiting any future boarding houses from opening in the city. Dean Findlay, chief building official with the City, says more information will be presented to council this year regarding the issue. He adds they are working on revamping rooming house licencing to better define what such a residence is.

Currently, the City, health and fire officials are allowed to inspect rooming house properties to make sure the homes are safe and clean.

That's good in theory says Coun. Juby, as long as the inspections take place.

"We can bylaw ourselves to death, it's the enforcement that's the issue. It's whether or not we have the manpower to put teeth into it," says Coun. Juby.

Mr. Findlay says there was an increase in the bylaw enforcement budget for 2013 which should aid the City in following up with rooming houses to make sure the owners are compliant.

Regardless, having associations like the one on Bolivar Street seems to be the step in the right direction. Coun. Juby would like to see similar groups form throughout the city. Sgt. Blewett agrees simply because it will keep the lines of communication between citizens and police open.